Last Updated on December 1, 2023 by Asfa Rasheed
People often wonder what documents are required to start their own company in London, but the answer isn’t quite as simple as it seems. There are certain documents that are an absolute must if you want to form a company in the UK, while others may not be necessary depending on your business model and how you plan to run it.
The exact documents you need depend on what kind of company you’re starting up, so before deciding to register with Companies House, it’s important to know which documents are required by law, and which are only necessary based on your unique situation.
Draft Memorandum of Association
A memorandum of association is an official document that outlines details about your business, including information about how your company will be organized and run. It also includes basic information about each company director, such as their name and contact details. In some cases, it may also include information regarding share capital and voting rights. This doesn’t need to be filed with any government agencies in order to form a business, but it must be made available to anyone who asks for it.
Certificate of Incorporation
A certificate of incorporation, also known as articles of incorporation, is one of the necessary documents required to form a company. The certificates specify your company’s name and registered address (which should be within England or Wales). Companies House will issue your certificate once you have filled out an application form and paid £18.00 in fees. Make sure that everything you include on your form is correct—mistakes can delay your registration.
Certificate of Commencement/Registration
In order to form your company, you will first need to register it with Companies House and obtain a Certificate of Commencement/Registration. Once you’ve completed your application and paid your registration fee (currently £20), you can expect Companies House to process your application within 10 working days. While your company is being registered, you may use Limited as its name until such time as it has been officially formed.
Inscribed Document
The Inscribed Document is a certificate issued by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, which confirms that you have paid your tax liability to HMRC. Because it’s one of your most important documents as an SME, you should keep it in a safe place at all times. Companies House will ask to see an original Inscribed Document as part of their company formation process; failure to provide one could delay or even halt your registration.
Evidence of Registered Office Address
In order to form a company in London, you’ll need to have your business address recorded at Companies House. This can be done by registering your business address as your registered office. In order to register an address as your registered office, you will require evidence of being able to use it. This may be anything from an electricity bill or a rent agreement proving that you can use the address as an office space or any other official documents that prove that you can use it for such purpose.
Minutes Book
Every company formed in England requires that you keep Minutes Books. In your company formation London process, there will be a lot of important documents which have to be filed and protected through time. If they are not available, it can make things difficult in court cases or even during litigation proceedings when problems arise with an individual or third party involved with your business activity. Having them online is easy with our UK Company Formation Online service; just log on to register your company and access all these documents instantly. It’s convenient!
Seal, Initials and Counter Signatures
Of course, you need to get your document signed by those you’re creating it with. As such, your starting documents will be an original signature and a copy of that signature. Seal: This can vary depending on where you’re forming your company; in England and Wales, companies still require seals. Initials: If someone is acting as a witness to your company being formed, they will sign their initials next to their witness name.
Read more: How to Choose an Online Personal Tax Accountant in London
